The National tribune., 1887-05-05
FIGHTING THEy U.z..
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
GEN. FREMONT IN MISSOURI.
A COmrade Defends Him From the Structures Of
Gen. Pope.

COmrade Defends Him From the Structures OF
Gen. Pope.
EDITOR NATIoNAL TRIBUNE: From the
reading of Gen P0pe's articles in THE Ma
TIoNAL tribune, il appears that he has made
il a point TO hit Gen. Fremont little harder
than is intended for either Price or the bridge
burners i am not a military student, ana
therefore not competent 10 crticise either the
strategy or administration of Gen. Fremont,
Gen. Pope, or any other officer, aud IN TINS
paper will cOnfine myself TO mere detail oil
such events rs Cell under my personal obser-
walton, which think VIII be Of interest, not
caring as 10 whether they do or do not provoke
controversy.
One thing that prompts me 20 write this
communication is that Gen. Pope makes Ere
mont appear ridiculous as a military leader IN
one particular. by describing the condition IN
which he found the army at Springfield, Mo-,
at the time of his arrival; and to the unin-
formed reader il is made TO appear that he
happened in at the time when Gen. Fremont
reached the climax of has stupidity.
Il is questionable il ever Gen. Pope, Gen.
Hunter or any other person having authority
in than army made any invest cation 10 find
out whether or not Fremont, ms an efficient and
prudent General, was justiiable in doing as he
did ou that occasion.
Another thing that encourages me 20 write
this article is desire Tor fair play, aud the
bclri that, although Gen. Fremont may have
j
s,Ss CD of the information to make clear and
iustiHabe that last ac; oil his al Springfield, for
which he has been rlicued by military men.
What J have TO say In justification OF Gen.
Fremont on that occasion may lc placed al its
proper value aBd no more. j viii first state
that ! know nothing whatever o! any iuior-
nation that may have been received through
scouts or spies connected with the army up TO
the uilht The army lay on lis arms in autici-
patton of an attack from Gen. Sterling Price;
hut what 4 do know is that through the day
mentioned men dressed IN citizens clothing
CAM INTO our lines and reported the rebels 10
be ia force within short distance of Spring
field aud that the usual chain of outposts and
sentnrls was established, required by an
army when the enemy is within striking dis
tauce.
After having used these precautions an order
for dc,achlaent OF cavalry TO report ut Gen.
FTcmunts headquarters was issued late IN the
afternoon. and ia compliance with that order
detachment did report about dark and the
commanding officer received orders 10 proceed
south of Springfield TO TcconnOiteT the enemy
and report results The officer charged with
the execution OF this order marched his COM
mand about two miles south of Springfield,
halted 10y the roadside, and remained there
until nearly midnight. He then returned and
reported directly 10 Gen. Fremont thai The
enemy was in force close 10 Springfield This
report had not been received more than
hour before the army was ordered into line.
Ii will be observed that this report of the
presence of the enemy was, ostensibly, the re-
sultOi an actual reconnaissance of regularly-or-
ganized troops, detailed for that special pur-
pose, under the command of UNASSIGNED
officer; and j; matters little as 10 the reliability
or unrvlIabiiity of previous reports of spies,
scouts citizens concerning the close pr0x-
unity OF Prices army. This alone, in the esti-
nation OF many. VIII Justify him, as prudent
General. ina dong what he did Furthermore,
i will state that there WAS not a single rebel in
arms seen by that accommodating party that
night, aud the only foundation which the
report OF their presence was based was that two
citizens on their way 10 Springfield in the
night were OverhRuied by the command, and
they reported the rebels TO be in large numbers
q few miles back. j could enter more into de-
tail about this affair, but since its occurrence
some of the chief actors have passed away,
and though justice calls TO defend the living,
charity bids Us deal gently with the dead.
in dealing publicly with the men of '6l and
their war measures we should, at least, aim TO
be cautious. All. from the War Department
down, were serving an apprenticeship in war
Then The prince of commanders had 40 more
confidence in his ability than to aspire to the
command of q regiment; and general officers
were to be found whose knowledge of military
affairs was not enough TO know how 10 assume
command. Yet within little year a ma
joriiy of these men proved themselves 10 be
soldiers than whom the world never saw
better.
There may yet be some differences Of opinion
or feeling over the matter of Gen. Fremont
having 50 many foreigners on his stat. :" IL
this was Desars grieyOns fault, grieyously did
Cesar suffer" IN this as well as in that which
has gone before, will confne myself TO what
fell under MY personal observation. Although
4 don't believe myself 10 be much of a
m0naruhisi. am ever ready TO shout Long
live hing William" 80 long as he continues 10
fork over his kTeutzers aud glders To educate
rs good soldiers as fought through the rebel
lion. and permit them 10 emigrate TO America,
become good citizens, and be on hand to vol
unfairly aid in fighting the Nations battles
W. McLVOY Equality, III.